Colombia

Carlos Villalon

Colombia is located on the northwestern tip of South America. The Colombian government has for decades been engaged in armed conflict with anti-government insurgent groups like The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and has struggled with the illegal drug trade. Violence has decreased in recent years due to the demobilization of FARC and a decline in drug production and trafficking. Colombia is rich in natural resources and is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, but has struggled with commercial exploitation of its forests.

Keep up to date on breaking news in Colombia and explore our extensive archive below.

Chronology of Coverage

Jul. 20, 2015

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia releases Cristian Moscoso, soldier held for two weeks, day before unilateral cease-fire declared by group is set to start. MORE

Jul. 14, 2015

Buenaventura Journal; Colombia's ambitious plan to clean up port city of Buenaventura, one of South America's most violent cities, is focused largely on promoting international trade and has created stark divide between elite and impoverished majority; added law enforcement has helped cut murder rate, but citizens continue to live in fear. MORE

Jun. 26, 2015

Colombian woman Maria Nelly Murillo and her baby are rescued after surviving plane crash and being lost in jungle for four days. MORE

Jun. 24, 2015

Law enforcement officials say 17 members and associates of one of Clan Usuga, Colombia’s largest and most influential narcotics cartels, including its founder and current leader, have been indicted on drug trafficking charges. MORE

Jun. 24, 2015

Human Rights Watch says many high-ranking officers in Colombia's armed forces may have known about soldiers killing civilians, presenting deaths instead as guerrilla casualties in battle against rebel insurgents. MORE

Jun. 22, 2015

Jere Longman On Soccer column applauds Colombia for taking women's soccer seriously; says Colombia can help advance role of women in sports in Latin America by defeating United States in upcoming World Cup match. MORE

Jun. 5, 2015

Colombian government and rebels from Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia agree to form truth commission to investigate war time atrocities, convening when final peace agreement is signed. MORE

Jun. 3, 2015

Colombia is struggling to facilitate farmers in move to stop growing coca and grow legal crops, step toward stabilizing part of country long ruled by rebel fighters and drug traffickers; effort, which gained urgency after government halted American campaign to kill coca crops with aerial spraying, is falling short of expectations. MORE

May. 26, 2015

Editorial welcomes fact that many Latin American governments, including Colombia, are moving away from emphasis on prohibition and punishment as strategies for policing drug abuse and trafficking after years of following American 'bully pulpit' policies; suggests United States focus on helping these countries to promote regional cooperation in fight against drug trafficking. MORE

May. 17, 2015

May. 15, 2015

Colombian government ends long-running program of aerial spraying of illegal plantings of coca, crop used to make cocaine, voicing worries that spray causes cancer; program was major element in American-backed antidrug effort; move defying United States raises questions of efficacy of long-accepted strategies in war on drugs. MORE

May. 7, 2015

White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reports land used in Colombia to grow coca, plant used to make cocaine, has increased 39 percent since 2013, to to 276,758 acres; report is released after Colombian Health Ministry called for ban on use of herbicide glyphosate, centerpiece of coca crop eradication program financed by United States. MORE

Apr. 29, 2015

World Health Organization's finding that herbicide glyphosate 'probably' causes cancer prompts Health Ministry in Colombia to recommend stopping controversial American-funded program that sprays the chemical on crops of coca, plant from which cocaine is derived. MORE

Apr. 20, 2015

Pilot program in which Colombian military and members of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia are working together to clear mines from areas once contested by guerillas could be in jeopardy due to deaths of 11 soldiers and at least on rebel in confrontation; negotiators from both government and FARC say nothing has changed. MORE

Apr. 16, 2015

At least 10 Colombian soldiers are killed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in what government calls deliberate attack, endangering cease-fire and fragile peace process; Pres Juan Manuel Santos orders FARC to track down and punish guerrillas responsible but does not suspend peace talks. MORE

Mar. 11, 2015

Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos, in move to accelerate peace talks with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, country’s largest rebel force, says he has ordered a halt to bombings of the group’s encampments. MORE

Mar. 10, 2015

Editorial highlights role United States has played in supporting Colombian government's efforts to defeat Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, and its support of negotiations to tend longest-running insurgencies in modern history; warns that negotiated settlement is best prospect for Colombia, despite valid concerns of critics, as alternative would mean more bloodshed, recriminations and suffering. MORE

Mar. 1, 2015

Op-Ed article by Prof David L Kirp calls attention to education model of Escuela Nueva, or New School, which is practiced widely in rural Colombia and has led to students outperforming their counterparts in urban areas; suggests that model deserves more attention than it has received in the United States, and urges school officials and policymakers to visit Colombia to see model in action. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

Ernesto Londono Editorial Observer describes meeting with leaders of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in Cuba, where Colombian government and FARC have met for peace talks; recalls childhood in Colombia riven with fears of FARC rebels, and considers question of how those who committed crime in decades-long war should be held accountable. MORE

Jan. 16, 2015

Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos appears to be seeking bilateral cease-fire with rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, by saying two groups are trying to find way to tamp down conflict. MORE

Dec. 20, 2014

Colombian Defense Ministry says Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas killed five government soldiers, day before rebels were to begin open-ended ceasefire. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia announces it is about to begin indefinite, unilateral cease-fire in challenge to government to suspend hostilities while both sides make attempt to broker permanent peace; group warns that it will call off cease-fire if government forces attack during period of negotation. MORE

Dec. 4, 2014

Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, agree to resume peace talks following FARC's release of army general, Ruben Dario Alzate. MORE

Dec. 1, 2014

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, country's largest rebel group, frees Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and two other prisoners whose capture led Pres Juan Manuel Santos to break off peace talks with them. MORE

Nov. 26, 2014

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia release two low-ranking soldiers who were captured after clash with government troops; it remains unclear when group will free Gen Ruben Dario Alzate, and two others that were seized separately. MORE

Nov. 21, 2014

Daniel Barrera, Colombian accused of being a drug kingpin and pursued for years by United States authorities, pleads guilty to federal charges in New York City courtroom MORE

Nov. 20, 2014

Cartagena Journal; Colombians have reacted angrily to Great Britain's placement of plaque in Cartagena commemorating British and American soldiers' valor in 1741 battle there; story takes strange turn when rights activist Jaime Rendon attacks plaque with hammer, breaking it in several places and becoming local folk hero. MORE

Nov. 20, 2014

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, agrees to free Colombian army Gen Ruben Dario Alzate and four other captives, following agreement with government. MORE

Nov. 19, 2014

Colombian forces scour country's northwestern region for Gen Ruben Dario Alzate, who was captured by guerrillas; incident has threatened to upend peace talks meant to end 50-year insurgency by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. MORE

Nov. 18, 2014

Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos suspends negotiations with Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, country's main rebel group, and accuses it of kidnapping army general Ruben Dario Alzate and two other people; it is first major setback in peace talks intended to end 50 years of guerrilla warfare. MORE

Nov. 18, 2014

Editorial criticizes Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos for halting peace talks between government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia due to abduction of Gen Ruben Dario Alzate Mora; contends while kidnapping has potential to doom the talks, it could also serve to jump-start them if leaders on both sides manage to put peace process back on track. MORE

Sep. 14, 2014

Aug. 28, 2014

John Jairo Velasquez, man who confessed to hundreds of murders as the lead assassin for the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, is freed from a maximum-security prison under heavy police guard. MORE

Jul. 29, 2014

American prosecutors claim Hugo Carvajal, former head of Venezuelan military intelligence, was on payroll of Colombian drug lord, invested his own money in drug trade and coordinated shipments of cocaine; unsealed federal indictments shed light on accusations of ties between Venezuelan military and law enforcement and Colombian narcotics traffickers. MORE

Jul. 2, 2014

Seven Colombians accused of involvement in the stabbing death of United States drug agent James Watson are handed over to American authorities at a police base in Bogota. MORE

Jun. 20, 2014

Leftist Clara Lopez throws her support behind re-election bid of Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos, and is singled out at his victory celebration for playing decisive role in his triumph; by declaring a vote for him as a vote in favor of peace negotiations with rebel groups, Lopez makes the country’s left politically relevant again. MORE

Jun. 20, 2014

United States Treasury removes 308 names from sanctions blacklist that helped cripple the Cali drug gang in Colombia, once considered the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world. MORE

Jun. 16, 2014

Colombian Pres Juan Manuel Santos is elected to second term, allowing him the chance to continue peace negotiations with rebel groups that may end decades of civil war; strong showing by rival Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, who opposes negotiations, points to skepticism on part of many citizens. MORE

Jun. 11, 2014

Colombian government begins exploratory peace talks with the National Liberation Army; move follows similar talks with larger rebel group FARC that began in 2012; decision comes just days ahead of a hotly contested presidential election that could hinge on how voters perceive the efforts of Pres Juan Manuel Santos to end decades of guerrilla warfare. MORE

May. 19, 2014

Overcrowded bus carrying young people home from church service catches fire in Fundacion, Colombia, killing at least 32 children. MORE

May. 18, 2014

Enthusiasm for collecting World Cup soccer stickers has extra oomph in 2014 in Colombia, which is returning to the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. MORE

May. 17, 2014

Negotiators for Colombian government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia say they have reached agreement on ways to fight drug trafficking; agreement, which is part of broader talks aimed at ending five decades of war, comes week before presidential election. MORE

May. 16, 2014

Presidential election in Colombia suddenly turns nasty, with main candidates and their backers leveling damning charges of payoffs from drug traffickers, illegal surveillance and even attempted murder; opinion polls show a tight contest between Pres Juan Manuel Santos and Oscar Ivan Zuluaga. MORE

May. 5, 2014

Death toll in collapse at illegal gold mine in western Colombia rises to at least 12 as searchers continue to dig for bodies. MORE

May. 4, 2014

Nicholas Gill travel article on trip to Mompos, Colombia, which heavily informed writing of late writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez. MORE

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